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Lesbians are the most likely to get the boot from the military under its “don’t ask, don’t tell policy,” according to new government statistics.

Women made up 15 percent of all active-duty soldiers and reservists but more than one-third of the 619 people kicked out last year because of their sexual preferences, The Associated Press reported. The trend was particularly acute in the Air Force, where women represented 20 percent of service members but 61 percent of those discharged.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told the AP that the "don't ask, don't tell" actually prohibits the military from getting to the bottom of why the disparity exists. "If we did investigate it, we would have to ask questions, and we aren't supposed to ask any questions," Smith said.

President Obama campaigned against “don’t ask, don’t tell” when running for president, and has been criticized by gay rights groups for not repealing the measure since becoming president. He “is intent on making progress,” a White House spokesperson told the AP ahead of the president’s planned speech at a gay rights fundraiser this weekend.